Ensure Graphics Files Display Previews and Thumbnails Correctly

I do a lot of photographic editing and often use the thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer folders in Windows XP and Windows 2000 to identify images. However, I can no longer view thumbnail preview images for certain graphic file types in Windows Explorer folder windows. For example, I can't preview JPEG (.jpg and .jpeg) and .gif files, but .bmp and other graphic file formats display thumbnail previews correctly. I've used the Windows Explorer Tools\Folder Options menu option to restore the default settings for the folders, but that didn't help. What can I do to fix the problem?

I bet that you recently uninstalled Microsoft Photo Editor from Microsoft Office (XP, Win2K, or Windows 97) or perhaps uninstalled and reinstalled Office without including Photo Editor in the reinstallation process. In either case, you've lost your association between JPEG and .gif files and the now-missing Photo Editor application. To address the problem, you need to manually associate JPEG and .gif files with Microsoft Paint by editing the registry. Because this problem can occur with other graphic file types such as .bmp, I will make my explanation general.

To edit the registry data, you must navigate to the following registry location associated with each file type

where file_ext is the extension for the graphic file type in question (e.g., .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg).

In many cases, you might find that the ShellEx and/or \{BB2E6...\} subkeys don't exist. If so, you need to create them. Next, you must make sure that the value of the \{BB2E6...\} subkey is set to exactly the following data: \{7376D660-C583-11d0-A3A5-00C04FD706EC\}, which Figure 2 shows.

After you complete these steps for each graphic file type, you should be able to again correctly view graphic thumbnail previews. When you verify these settings or make changes, remember that JPEG files have three possible extensions by default: .jpe, .jpg, and .jpeg.

Because this problem occurs frequently on my systems, I've created a registry settings (.reg) file, which Listing 1 shows, that I can double-click to reenter the required data into the registry to repair any problems with my primary graphic file types. For me, those primary graphic file types are .bmp, .gif, .jpe, .jpg, .jpeg, and .wmf files. However, the .reg file also resets .art, .dib, .jfif, and .png file associations.

One final tip: When I use this file on my systems, I find that a .jpe class typically has the same subkey structure and values that you're manually creating with the steps I've outlined above. If this situation is true on your system, you could use copy and paste functions to copy the subkey and value to the .jpg class key to avoid mistyping these values.

I made a comment earlier because I didn't understand. I did some research and learned to access the registry. This is great advice, but I suggest that you mention that we have to run "regedit" to access the registry. But I found out and followed your instructions and now my thumbnails are displaying!

I have been trying to resolve this problem for months. In just a few minutes it's been solved!! Many Thanks. I echo all the good stuff everyone else has said about this fix.
Sean, tell your boss to give you a raise!
Tim Paul

A quick fix that I did was just rename the JEPG HKEY JPG,and the thumbnails are back
Out of thousands of pictures that I have on my drive there is not on JPEG. It's a simple fix that works. Then you have time to work on a new JPEJ HKEY
It's very simple for a guy that doesn't want to really get deep into making new keys etc.

this information ROCKS!!!
I just used my code for Photoshop vs the microsoft crap and it works great. You can find the Photoshop code from the .psd folder in the regedit directory. Then just copy and paste it on a notepad and save it for future use.

For a long time I have been trying to figure out why my thumbnails have not been displaying. I checked this out at numerous websites including Microsoft's site. All to no avail. Yesterday, I was looking at briansbuzz.com and found your site. Your article #37752 answered my questions and I employed the fix and now my thumbnail views are back!!
Thank you very much for this help. I had just about given up. Good luck to your publication.

This disappearing act happen to me about six months ago and your fix helped me recover then. Then again, a few days ago, and couldn't remember where I had stored the little program that was written to do a 1 click restore. I did the registry entries and everything is OK with the world. . . thank you kindly.

I appreciate your advice on the thumbnail problem. I too had installed Office 2K then had incurable problems generating thumbnails for my image folders. I solved it by selectively reinstalling Microsoft photo editor from the Office 2K CD. Thumbnails now work perfectly. Thanks.

My thumbnails disappeared with upgrade to O2K. I followed the directions and it worked wonderfully. Thumbnails are back. Thanks. The only hitch was that the web page with instructions did not display completely and key/Data was hidden by a graphic. Solved that by View Source.

Im having this same kind of issue on windows xp after having an issue installing winamp. I can no longer see my thumbnails of my .wmv files that used to open with windows media player, but after installing win amp got connected to that as the default program. I uninstalled winamp and now i can no longer see thumbnails of .wmv files. I'm looking for a fix like this .jpg fix for .wmv files.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I have in excess of 10,000 JPGs on my machine - I am running Win2k also & my thumbnails just disappeared. I was heartbroken & could NOT find a way to get them back.
I was pointed here by someone who has the same problem.
Again, in case you didn't get it :)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Scarlett Chadwell-Daniels

Thank you so much for posting. I decided to uninstall the PhotoEditor and didn't realize this function was attached to it. This was the first link that showed up under a google search for 'Thumbnails view doesn't show thumbnails'. This worked like a charm for me. Thank you!

I have been hunting for a resolution to this problem for months. Seems many people are having this problem, cause there are tons of discussion topics running around about it. None of the other fixes worked for me. THIS ONE WORKS! Thanks a million!!

I just uninstalled and reinstalled Adobe Photoshop (same old version 4, and not MS Photo Editor) and the thumbnails disappeared. All that won't display as thumbnails are jpgs. Before I dive into changing registry keys, I thought I better check to see if there wasn’t another approach. I never even had Photo Editor to begin with.

I was recently upgraded to Office 2000 at work and my thunbnail views disappeared. I called our computer support center and they were no help after a week. I did a google search and found your article. Once I found out how to get to the registry data (run:regdata) I was able to figure it out based on your description and voila, I have thumbnails again. Thanks a lot!!

I have tried everthing on this board and nothing has worked for getting back my thumbnails. I have removed and reinstalled both office 97 and office XP and stillnothing. I have tried the fix in the registry and it doesn't do anything either. I used to have the microsoft photo editor on here but I do not know what program added it. I thoughtis was MSoffice 97 but it didn't show up after the installation. I am running Windows 2000. Is that where it resides?
Please Help!!!

Okay Sean, you're my new best friend! Worked like a charm, had done everthing under the sun EXCEPT a search on words "thumbnails" and "problem." There you were with the solution! You da Bomb, my man! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I am DELIGHTED.

Thanks for publishing Sean Daily's "Ensure Graphics Files Display Previews and Thumbnails Correctly" (March 2003, http://www.winnetmag.com, InstantDoc ID 37752). I have agonized for some time about why my thumbnail view just went away. I thought its disappearance might be related to my removing and reinstalling Microsoft FrontPage 2002. I didn't know why or what to do about it. I followed your instructions in the article and my thumbnail view is back.